CHAPTER XXV
A BIRCH-BARK MESSAGE
EVEN while Sandy was shouting these thrilling words, a figure flittedpast Bob and Simon Kenton. It was the agile Frenchman, and he wasmaking at full speed for the shelf where the exit of the strange cavernlay.
Abijah Cook, aroused by the cries, scrambled to his feet, beingdoubtless under the impression that they had been attacked by a largeforce of the dusky enemy, against whom his hand had been pitted incontinual warfare.
There was a collision, and the borderer measured his length again onthe stone floor of the cavern. The fleeing form of Armand Lacroix wasjust glimpsed as he shot around the corner of rock that lay between therear part of the cave and the waterfall.
For once Kenton did not happen to have his rifle with him, since he hadno reason to dream that he would need it. His first act had been toleap wildly forward in the hope that he might yet snatch the weapon upbefore the Frenchman could vanish beyond the outcropping of rocks.
Bob had seen that, when Lacroix regained his feet after his collisionwith Abijah, he held something in his grasp that had not been therebefore. It was the weapon of the big borderer, which doubtless thecunning French trapper had made up his mind to snatch up even before hestarted to escape.
Kenton knew just where his own rifle was leaning against the wall, and,as he reached the spot, he snatched it up with a single movement. Thenhe went flying after the figure of the Frenchman, leaving the two boysdumb with fear lest their plans were now doomed to utter defeat.
Larue and his two companions had witnessed with mingled feelings thisdash for liberty on the part of Lacroix. They exchanged many lowmutterings among themselves, and, while neither of the boys couldunderstand much French, they felt sure that Larue was furious becausethe other had not waited to cut their bonds before dashing off, andthus giving them a chance to escape also.
"Oh! what if he gets clear away?" said Sandy, when several minutes hadpassed, and Kenton did not return.
"I hope that may not be," Bob remarked between his set teeth. "For hisfirst act will be to bring the Senecas against us, and, even if wemanaged to escape, think of what Kate's fate would be."
"Hark!" cried Sandy, gripping his brother's arm convulsively; "did youhear that, Bob?"
"Surely," replied the other, endeavoring to control his anxiety as besthe was able. "It was the report of a gun without a doubt; though, underhere, sounds come but faintly."
"Yes, but mark that there was only one shot!" continued Sandy. "Whoeverfired that did not miss. If it was Kenton, then we have no longer anyneed of fear lest we be betrayed; but, should it have been ArmandLacroix, perhaps we have lost our best friend, and the whole frontierwill mourn the death of brave Simon Kenton."
They sat there waiting. The roar of the waterfall was the only soundthat came to their ears. Both of them gripped their guns in nervoushands, and had no heart to exchange further words.
"Some one is coming," whispered Sandy, suddenly.
"Yes," his brother added, as he raised his musket so as to be ready forany emergency; "I, too, saw a shadow flit past that bright spot on thewall. Oh!"
Kenton suddenly stood before them. The first thing Bob and Sandynoticed was that the young borderer carried _two_ guns! They couldeasily guess the meaning of such a thing.
"Here is your rifle, Abijah!" said the returned frontiersman, as hehanded the weapon over to his big companion; then he coolly started toreload his own gun.
"But--Armand Lacroix, what of him?" asked Sandy, appalled at theconsciousness that one of those dark tragedies, so common on theborder, must have just taken place.
"Fear no ill," said Simon Kenton, calmly. "He will not betray us. Weare safe yet a while, my brave boys."
Nor would he utter another word at the time to satisfy the terriblecuriosity of the lads. They could, however, easily picture what hadhappened--how swiftly the athletic young borderer had pursued thefleeing Frenchman, and, coming in sight of him, perhaps just asArmand, Lacroix was about to use his gun, had taken a shot himself.His well-known skill with firearms had stood Kenton in good stead oncemore.
Later on, Abijah told them how Kenton had spent a few minutes inconcealing all signs of the tragedy, so that, in case any prowlingIndians, attracted by the rifle shot, came around to ascertain what itmeant, they would fail to learn anything. Even the trail of himselfand the Frenchman from the waterfall to the scene of the final meetingwas utterly hidden as Kenton backed once more in the direction of thehidden cavern.
Sandy went on with his preparations for the meal; but his hand wasnot quite so steady as usual when he contemplated the tremendousconsequences that must have followed, had the French trapper escaped.
It was difficult to realize that Armand Lacroix would give them no moretrouble; that as he had lived, so had he finally died--by violence.
They were yet eating, when silently Blue Jacket entered the cavern,grave as was his custom. Sandy was immediately wringing his brown hand,and plying him with a multitude of questions. So excited did the boyseem that finally Kenton spoke to him rather sternly.
"Let me find out what has been done, Sandy," he said. "Chief, did youdiscover where the wigwam of Black Beaver is situated in the village?"
"It lies at further edge, close to region of rising sun," repliedBlue Jacket, readily enough; for, while he did not entertain the samefeeling toward Kenton that he had in his breast for the Armstrongfamily, at the same time he recognized, in this friend of the greatColonel Boone, one who held the respect of all hostile Indians onaccount of his dash and valor.
"Good. That will be of value to us when we start the blaze going,"declared the borderer; "because the chances are ten to one that thewind will be out of the west, and hence we can begin work far away fromthat single lodge. As the Indians rush toward the fire, to put it out,they will leave the eastern side of the village unguarded; then we cando what we have planned, and disappear."
"Did you meet Pontiac?" asked Bob, who could not forget his fears forBlue Jacket, should such an encounter take place.
"Blue Jacket ask see um," replied the Shawanee; "when he exchangegreetings with chief, Silver Heels, whom he knows. Some time, perhaps,Blue Jacket may yet follow in footsteps of great Pontiac. If any oneman bind the tribes in big league to drive paleface back beyond thehills, Pontiac do it. And the heart of Blue Jacket beats true to hispeople."
"Did you take note of the village, so as to know where to start thefire in case we are compelled to adopt that method of confusion, undercover of which Kate may be rescued?" Kenton continued.
He purposely brought the name of the girl into what he said, for he sawthat the young Shawanee winced at mention of firing the village. Onlyhis devotion to the Armstrong family would induce him to thus play adouble part, and turn upon his own people.
"Blue Jacket did all that," came the answer slowly, as though it wereonly with a great effort that the Indian brought himself to confess howhe had spied on the Senecas, who were allies of his own tribe.
"You do not think Pontiac suspected you, I hope?" asked Kenton.
"Not so. Blue Jacket hide feelings. No can tell what um think. Greatsachem much pleased meet Blue Jacket. Say hear good report same. Bob,Sandy, get chance see sister. Nobody look, talk, Kate grind maize instone. Come 'long again, find this on ground. Bring Bob, him read trailof crazy fly on bark!" (Note 7.)
To the astonishment and delight of the boys he suddenly produceda small strip of birch bark from his little ornamented bag wherehe carried his flints, together with the paints which were used todecorate his face when on the warpath, and various other things dear tothe heart of a brave.
Upon the smooth inner surface of the tiny roll of bark Kate had managedto write just a few words, using the juice of the poke berry, andperhaps a splinter of wood in place of a quill.
"Bob--Sandy, come and take me home to mother. Kate."
Tears came unbidden into the eyes of both boys as they saw theseexpressive words which had been inscribed on the bark by th
eir dearlittle sister. They could read between the lines the dumb pain of aheart nearly broken by the extent of the terrible disaster that hadbefallen the child.
Sandy, less able to contain his feelings than his brother, did actuallypress the rude letter to his boyish lips; nor was Kenton apt to thinkany the less of the lad for this open exhibition of grief. He knew thetender love that bound together the three children of David Armstrong.
"Then you found a chance to talk with the maiden, did you, BlueJacket?" asked the borderer, turning again to the Shawanee messenger.
"Blue Jacket stand by watching her grind in mill. When no one look andnone hear Blue Jacket tell how Bob, Sandy come all way from Ohio tosave little papoose. Then drop piece of bark, so can make marks forBob. After some time come again that way. Kate in wigwam, bark lie onground with trail of wounded fly on back. It is well. She know we comesoon. She wait and be ready. Ugh!"
If they asked a score more questions they would hardly have receivedfurther information. In his own crude but effective way Blue Jackethad told his story. It needed no embellishment. The boys were able tomentally picture just what had occurred, and it pleased them to thinkthat at least Kate knew of their coming.
She would be able to dry her tears now, perhaps, with her heartthrilled with this new hope and expectation of a speedy rescue.
"I am glad to have a chance to help in saving so brave a girl,"remarked Kenton, as he fingered the little roll of bark on which Katehad sent her message. "What would the pioneers be able to accomplishif it were not for such valiant mothers, wives and daughters! If thisbeautiful country is ever given over to the whites, more than half ofthe credit will belong to those who loaded the guns, while their menfired them."
In turn Blue Jacket was told about the fate of Armand Lacroix, for, ofcourse, he quickly counted one less among the bound figures lying onthe rocky floor. Not by the movement of a facial muscle did he betraywhat he may have thought; but Bob noticed that, when Kenton was notlooking, the young Shawanee cast several glances of admiration in hisdirection. Such a bold man as Simon Kenton could not but excite theenvy and admiration of every adventurous spirit, be he white or red.
So it was that Colonel Boone made many friends among the Indians, and,on one occasion, when he fell into their power, instead of puttinghim to death, they adopted him into the tribe. He even lived amongthem for months. Hearing that a heavy force was setting out to destroyBoonesborough, and rendered desperate by the fear that his friends andrelatives might thus be murdered, Boone had escaped, and managed torejoin his kindred in time to assist in the defence of the settlementhe had himself started.
The afternoon dragged along. Pat O'Mara came back from his hunt butbrought no news. Poor Sandy did nothing, Bob thought, but growl, getup to walk around the confined space of the cavern, lie down again ina vain attempt to coax sleep to his eyes, and in all sorts of waysproclaim his impatience.
But, by degrees, the time passed. They had no means of telling thehour save as the shadows lengthened; the sun-dial they depended on wasthe dropping of the glowing day god behind the western horizon. And,when it became apparent that the twilight had actually changed intodarkness, Sandy breathed a sigh of satisfaction in his brother's ear.
"Now it cannot be long!" he declared. "Once darkness settles over theland, and surely Kenton will bid us depart from this place, which Inever want to see again; for I have lived and grown old here. But, oh!I only; hope there will be plenty of wind! There, he has gone out tosee how things look. Let us pray he returns to tell us the wind hasrisen."